Jack is STILL Different--What to Say NOW

9 years ago, when I was writing on my old blog, www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com, I wrote Really, We mean it. Let your kids comment. 

Jack at age 4 chillin out on his Winnie the Pooh couch. 

11 years ago on that same blog, I wrote What to Say.

Jack at age 2 tours the Kennedy Museum in Dallas from the comfort of his fancy car seat/stroller that he loved.

Can y'all believe Jack was ever so little? A whole lot of time has passed since those blogs.

Jack at age 13 hanging out at the YMCA with his old tattered friend, Elmo, after finishing his 1 mile walking workout. 

Our feelings on the subject are unchanged. We know Jack is different. We still like to make friends. Jack still likes to be around little children. He is not little anymore but I think he still identifies with small toddlers and preschool children the best. When children are squealing and running around in delight, Jack often runs toward the sound, laughing and trying to get in on the fun in his own way.

Jack is still very verbally delayed and does not verbalize his thoughts and feelings to us but we are certain that he knows he is different as well. Most of all and most of the time, he is happy. Life is not perfect and he has his moments. I do believe that there might have been a time or two over the years where his feelings might have been hurt while out and about and he acted up later when we returned home.

We are going to continue to get out and about and enjoy our lives. We know this means that there will inevitably be people who stop and stare without saying a word. We generally give those people a smile and a nod and if that does not knock that person out of his or her own head, we happily move on.

There are going to be children who embarrass the fire out of their parents by pointing directly at Jack and shouting loud enough for the whole world to hear from 10 miles away, "Look at that guy!!!!" We ask that you please get over it and realize that your kiddo has not said anything bad. He/she is just using his/her limited vocabulary to say that he/she is seeing something that he/she has never seen before. Say, "Hi" to us. We do not make it a habit of reprimanding people who try to be friendly to us. Jack is still very verbally delayed and has difficulty having a conversation but he can, with our help and sometimes without it, introduce himself and say, "Hello". You can explain to your child that there are people in this world who do not look like he/she does but we should try to treat everyone with kindness. You cannot be everyone's friend. The world does not work that way BUT you can be kind and treat others with respect.

I promise that we are trying to teach Jack the same. All people are valuable. Everyone does not have to be our favorite person ever but each person should be treated with kindness.

Jack most likely does not play the way you or your kids do. He has his own way of talking and interacting. A lot of people (including us sometimes) still do not understand a lot of way he says. BUT I have never met a person who made an effort to spend a little time with Jack who did not walk away feeling better.

He is still different. We still say the same thing. Just say hello and as long as Jack is not tugging us along to go somewhere else, we are ready to answer questions. Just ask.